How F-1 Students Can Find an H-1B Sponsor

Updated 2026-10-213 min readNot legal advice in W X

QUICK ANSWER

The most reliable way to find an H-1B sponsor is to target employers that public government data shows have filed H-1B cases before. Two free datasets cover this. Then you need the right questions for recruiters and a short list of red flags.

Find employers that sponsor students on OPT

Every job is from an employer that filed H1Bs in 2025. See which ones fit your resume.

software engineer data engineer data analyst java developer business analyst qa engineer

Source 1: the USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub

USCIS publishes H-1B decision counts by employer. As of October 2026, it covers fiscal year 2009 through the third quarter of fiscal year 2026.

You can search by employer name, city, state, ZIP code and industry code. The numbers count workers approved, not petitions.

It shows first decisions only. Appeals and revocations are not included.
Location comes from the employer's mailing address. That may not be where H-1B workers actually work.
Employer names can be misspelled or inconsistent, because of manual data entry.
Continuing approvals often reflect extensions, not new hires. Look for initial approvals to see who brings in new people.

Source 2: Department of Labor LCA data

Before filing an H-1B petition, an employer needs a certified Labor Condition Application from the Department of Labor.

The Labor Department publishes LCA disclosure files every quarter. The latest release covers determinations from Oct. 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026.

LCA files are useful for job titles, worksites and offered wages. An LCA is a step before the petition, so it does not prove a petition was filed or approved.

Top H-1B sponsors, 2025US Department of Labor data

Employer	H-1B filings	Transfers	Median pay
Amazon.Com Services LLC	14,047	2,382	$155k
Cognizant Technology Solutions US CorpGC frozen	10,209	872	$110k
Ernst & Young U.S. LLP	9,808	269	$143k
Google LLC	7,899	844	$186k
Microsoft CorporationGC frozen	7,840	879	$173k
Tata Consultancy Services LimitedGC frozen	7,287	353	$86k

Every sponsor, with their open jobsSee the list ›

Finding employers that hire on OPT

An employer files no petition to hire you on OPT. Your work permit comes through your school and USCIS. That makes OPT jobs easier to land than H-1B jobs.

ICE publishes the top 200 employers of OPT and STEM OPT students in its yearly SEVIS by the Numbers report. The latest list covers 2024 and shows how many students each employer had.

For STEM OPT, the employer must be enrolled in E-Verify and sign Form I-983, your training plan. You can check enrollment in the E-Verify employer search.

ProfilePush shows OPT and E-Verify records next to each job, along with H-1B filings. That helps you pick employers that can carry you from OPT to H-1B. Note that DHS has proposed new OPT fees, which are not final. See the fee proposals guide.

Turning the data into a target list

Filter the Data Hub to your state and industry, then sort by initial approvals.
Open the Labor Department files and search those employers for job titles close to yours.
Check the worksite city in the LCA file. It is more precise than the Data Hub mailing address.
Compare the wages listed with offers you receive. This helps you ask about wage level.
Keep a short list of 20 to 40 employers and apply to them first.

How ProfilePush uses this data

ProfilePush only shows U.S. jobs from employers that filed H-1B petitions in 2025. You can browse those employers at /h1b-sponsors and their open roles at /h1b-jobs.

Filing history shows willingness, not a promise. Always confirm sponsorship for the specific role.

Questions to ask a recruiter

Do you sponsor H-1B for this role, and will you register me in the March lottery?
Is the company cap-exempt? Universities and nonprofit research organizations can file year-round.
Is the company enrolled in E-Verify? This matters if you need a STEM OPT extension.
What wage level does this salary fall into for the job and location? Higher levels get more entries in the weighted lottery.
Will the petition request a change of status inside the U.S.?
Who is your immigration attorney, and when do you start the process?

Why the wage level matters now

Since FY 2027, USCIS selects registrations by wage level. Level IV enters the pool four times and level I once.

Employers must report the occupation code, work location and wage level when they register. Our guide at /h1b/h1b-wage-based-lottery explains this further.

Red flags

The employer has no H-1B history in the USCIS or Labor Department data and cannot explain its plan.
The job does not require a degree related to your field. H-1B requires a specialty occupation.
The offer is for STEM OPT, but the employer is not enrolled in E-Verify.
The STEM OPT employer wants an unpaid or volunteer role. USCIS says those do not qualify.
The employer wants consular processing without explaining why. Under USCIS guidance, that route was tied to the $100,000 payment.
Vague answers about who will file, or when.

A note on scrutiny in 2026

A Sept. 18, 2026 executive order lets federal agencies consider whether an H-1B employer has had layoffs affecting similar U.S. workers, according to law firm Phillips Lytle. It may be worth asking about recent layoffs in the team you would join.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Confirm your situation with your DSO or an immigration attorney.

Questions

Where can I see which companies sponsor H-1B?

The USCIS H-1B Employer Data Hub lists approvals by employer. The Department of Labor publishes LCA disclosure files each quarter.

Does a past H-1B filing mean an employer will sponsor me?

No. It shows the employer has done it before. Confirm sponsorship for your specific role and timeline.

What is a cap-exempt employer?

Universities, their affiliated nonprofits, nonprofit research organizations and government research organizations. They are not subject to the annual cap.

Why should I ask about E-Verify?

A STEM OPT extension requires an employer enrolled in E-Verify. Without it, you may lose work time that could carry you to an H-1B start.

How do I find jobs that hire people on OPT?

Start with ICE's yearly top 200 list of OPT and STEM OPT employers, then check E-Verify enrollment if you will need STEM OPT. Favor employers that also file H-1B cases, so the job can continue after OPT.

Does an employer need to sponsor me to work on OPT?

No. OPT is authorized through your school and USCIS. STEM OPT does need an E-Verify employer and a signed Form I-983 training plan.